Milner’s penalty against Swansea was enough to give Jurgen Klopp his first home win at Anfield in the Premier League.
Klopp made 3 changes from his team that played against Bordeaux on Thursday night in the Europa League, with Adam Lallana, Emre Can and Martin Skrtel all coming in for Joe Allen, Lucas Leiva and Kolo Toure. Although it was the bench that interested fans with Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge both coming back from long term injuries to join the substitutes. Swansea on the other hand made one change that started against Bournemouth last weekend.
Liverpool put on the pressure early from the kick-off and almost got rewarded for their efforts when Kyle Bartley rattled his own post after sliding in to tackle Jordan Ibe in the first few minutes of the game.
Liverpool continued to ensue the same pressure the did from the kick-off with Swansea happy to sit back and defend but the Reds failed to create any real opportunities until the 41 minute when Benteke won a free kick just on the edge of the area. Although this came to nothing with Alberto Moreno sending the ball well over the bar to the relief of Fabianski.
Just like the first half Klopps’ men started the better but with not many effective chances until the 61st Minute of the game when Ibe’s cross hit the flailing arm of Taylor giving referee Taylor no option but to point to the penalty spot. Captain Milner took ease in riffling the ball high into the centre of the net giving Fabianski no chance and Liverpool the lead.
Klopp seen this as an opportunity to introduce Henderson and Sturridge to the delight of the Anfield faithful. In response Gary Monk put on Bafetimbi Gomis to replace an ineffective Eder.
Swansea upped the pressure after the goal searching for that much needed equaliser but with not much quality in the final third of the pitch Monk’s men did very little to threaten Simon Mignolet’s goal.
Liverpool were secure to hold out for the win giving them the 3 points. The Reds are now 6th, just 4 points of fourth placed Arsenal and 6 behind league leaders Man City.
Jurgen Klopp post match interview
Gary Monk post match interview
Line-ups:
Liverpool: Mignolet (yellow card 90+3), Clyne, Skrtel (yellow card 65), Lovren, Moreno, Can, Milner (Penalty scored 62, yellow card 25), Lallana, Ibe (Toure 90+5), Firmino (Henderson 64), Benteke (Sturridge 71)
Swansea: Fabianski, Naughton, Bartley (yellow card 70), Williams, Taylor, Britton (Cork 65), Ki Sung-Yueng, Sigurdsson, Routledge (Montero 72), Ayew, Eder (Gomis 69)
Man of the match: James Milner
Anthony Rogan Media 